Striker Marko Arnautovic could start for Inter Milan in their Serie A match away to Cagliari on Monday.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the biggest doubt as far as the Nerazzurri starting eleven goes concerns the Austrian and Marcus Thuram in attack.
In Inter’s first Serie A match of the season against Monza, Inzaghi had a pretty clear approach as far as bedding in new signings.
In the starting eleven for that match, the coach largely went for players who he knows and trusts. Nine of the eleven starters were players who had been at the club last season.
Then, as the match wore on, the coach gave a run-out to some of the summer arrivals.
As he usually does, Inzaghi used all five substitutions available to him. And, making something of a statement, all five players the coach introduced were new signings.
Inzaghi Could Turn To Marko Arnautovic In Inter Vs Cagliari Clash
There were however two new players in Inter’s starting eleven last Saturday.
One was goalkeeper Yann Sommer. With all three senior goalkeepers from last season gone, Inzaghi had little choice but to start a summer arrival.
And another was Thuram.
Whilst Joaquin Correa could have theoretically started, the Argentine is largely out of the plans.
Therefore, Inzaghi was always likely to start either the Frenchman or Arnautovic alongside Lautaro Martinez against the Brianzoli.
Given that Arnautovic had only arrived a couple days prior whereas Thuram had had a full preseason with the Nerazzurri, it is perhaps little surprise that Inzaghi went with the latter from the start.
But then Arnautovic was one of the players who came off the bench. And the 34-year-old former West Ham United and Stoke City striker made a big impact.
Whilst Thuram had shown plenty of positive signs in his performance, he did not score or assist a goal.
Arnautovic, on the other hand, instantly looked like a real reference point in attack. It was the Austrian who put the ball on a plate for Martinez to score his second goal of the night.
With Arnautovic already off the mark in terms of assists, it’s clear what he provides.
And according to the Gazzetta, there is a decent chance that Inzaghi could turn to the 34-year-old from the start on Monday.
The question between he and Thuram will be the big one in the coach’s mind.